Justice News

Three Jackson Men Sentenced under Project EJECT for Business Robbery and Illegally Discharging a Firearm During Robbery

Jackson, Miss. – Willie Evans, Gino Banks, and Devonta Jimmerson, all of Jackson, were sentenced yesterday before United States Chief District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III for the robbery of a local Jackson convenience store and illegal discharge of a firearm during said robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Evans was sentenced to serve 40 months for the robbery and 120 months for illegally discharging a firearm to run consecutive to the robbery for a total sentence of 160 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Banks was sentenced to 15 months for the robbery and 120 months for discharging a firearm to run consecutive for a total sentence of 135 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Jimmerson, the getaway driver, was sentenced to 70 months for the robbery, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On January 14, 2016, Devonta Jimmerson entered the store and conducted a surveillance of the Stop and Shop store located on Beasley Road and informed the other defendants of the store conditions and whether theywould be able to access the register and the store clerk. After receiving the report from Jimmerson, Banks and Ellis entered the Stop and Shop store dressed in dark clothing. They assaulted the clerk, demanded money, and fired several shots at the store safe in an attempt to open it. The suspects fled the store and were met by Jimmerson who drove them away from the scene.

Jackson Police Department officers stopped a vehicle matching the getaway car and upon a search of the vehicle they found several items including a .40 caliber handgun, the clerk’s stolen cell phone, U.S. currency, and the clothing that matched the description of the clothing worn by the suspects seen on the surveillance and described by the victim.

U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Jackson Police Department and their cooperation with FBI agents and Project EJECT task force members. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime in Jackson through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together." PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.